Sunday, November 25, 2012

EchoStar XVI Launch Success Aboard ILS Proton Rocket

The EchoStar XVI satellite built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) was successfully launched and placed into geostationary transfer orbit by International Launch Services (ILS) using a Proton Breeze M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

EchoStar XVI is an all Ku-band satellite with spot beam transponders and coverage of the continental United States.It uses SS/L’s 1300 spacecraft bus and will be located at 61.5° west longitude, providing Direct-To-Home (DTH) broadcast services to DISH customers in the United States.

This marks the 5th EchoStar satellite to be launched on ILS Proton.

EchoStar XVI will be fully leased to DISH Network for the delivery of direct-to-home (DTH) broadcast services to DISH customers in the United States.  , a 20-kilowatt satellite that weighs more than 14,700 lbs. fully fueled.

http://www.echostar.com/launch

http://www.ilslaunch.com/newsroom/news-releases/ils-successfully-launches-echostar-xvi-satellite